Fritz Otto Bernert

Oberleutnant Fritz Otto Bernert (6 March 1893 – 18 October 1918) was a leading German fighter ace of World War I. He scored 27 victories despite being essentially one-armed.[1]

Otto Bernert
Born6 March 1893
Ratibor, Upper Silesia German Empire (modern Raciborz, Poland)
Died18 October 1918(1918-10-18) (aged 25)
Ratibor, Upper Silesia
Jerusalem Cemetery
Ratibor, Upper Silesia
AllegianceGerman Empire
Service/branchInfantry, Air Service
Years of service1912–1918
RankOberleutnant
Unit173rd Infantry Regiment, FA 27, FA 71, KEK Vaux, Jagdstaffel 4, Jagdstaffel 2
Commands heldJagdstaffel 2
AwardsPour le Merite
Iron Cross

Early life and infantry service

Fritz Otto Bernert was the son of a Bürgermeister (mayor). He was born in Ratibor, Silesia, which now is Racibórz, Poland.[1] At the time of his birth, Ratibor was German and part of the Kingdom of Prussia.[2]

Bernert was commissioned into the 173rd Infantry Regiment in 1912. He was serving with them when World War I began. He was wounded in ground combat in both November and December 1914; his fourth wound, inflicted by a bayonet,[1] severed the major nerve in his left arm. Upon recovery, it became apparent his left arm was essentially useless, and he was invalided out of the infantry.[3][4][5]

Aerial service

"Otto" Bernert then applied to the Luftstreitkräfte and trained to be an aerial observer.[3] Upon graduation, he flew reconnaissance missions for Feldflieger Abteilung 27 from February through July 1915. He then transferred to FFA 71, where he served through November.[6] He then applied for pilot's training; he hid his disability successfully and was accepted.[3] The fact that he wore glasses also did not bar him from service.[7]

He transferred to Kampfeinsitzerkommando Metz, a temporary grouping of pilots mostly from FFA 71, for his initial assignment to a fighter unit. By March, 1916, he had his pilot's license and was assigned to KEK Vaux.[3][8] On 17 April 1916, he scored his first victory while flying a Fokker Eindecker,[9][10] over a Nieuport fighter.[1]

Because KEK Vaux was an ad hoc fighter unit, it was equipped with Halberstadt D.II planes and reorganized into a full-fledged Prussian fighter squadron. It became Jagdstaffel 4 on 25 August 1916.[8][11] On 6 September, Bernert scored the new squadron's first victory. He became an ace on 9 November 1916, scoring his fifth, sixth, and seventh triumphs.[1][5][12]

On 1 March 1917, he was transferred to Jagdstaffel 2.[5] This squadron was named in honor of Oswald Boelcke,[13] the founder of fighter aviation tactics and strategy, and was considered the premier unit of the German Air Service. Bernert scored his first victory in this unit on 19 March; on 1 April, he achieved the status of double ace with his tenth win.[5]

He scored 14 more times in April, including a record five victories on 24 April, all in a twenty-minute span, to run his total to 24.[1] He was awarded the Pour le Merite on 24 April.[14]

On 1 May, Bernert was appointed to command Jagdstaffel 6.[10] His final three victories came in May, with an unconfirmed 28th on 19 May.[1] In mid-May, Bernert crashlanded behind German lines after his engine quit in mid-combat. A few days later, he landed long, ran out of airfield, and crashed next to his home aerodrome, breaking his jaw and bruising himself severely. Although unable to fly, Bernert did not give up his command. However, he did host some pilots from Austria-Hungary.

On 9 June 1917, Bernert was transferred back to Jasta 2, and would command it to the end of his flying career. The previous commanding officer had scored no victories to inspire his pilots; as it turned out, because of his injuries, Bernert could do no better.

However, he once again hosted several pilots from Austro-Hungary during his tenure, and thus influenced the fighter tactics of Germany's allies. He also took some leave during June and July.[15]

Bernert was severely wounded again on 18 August 1917. This wound removed him from command and kept him in the hospital for three months. It took him off flight status. He was promoted to Oberleutnant upon release from the hospital,[3] and was transferred to Berlin as Inspector of Air.

He died of the Spanish flu in his home town[3] on 18 October 1918.

Decorations and awards
  • Prussian military pilot badge
  • Iron Cross (1914), 1st and 2nd class
  • Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
  • Pour le Mérite (23 April 1917)
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References
  1. "Fritz Otto Bernert". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  2. "The history of Racibórz". Town of Racibórz. Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  3. "Who's Who: Fritz Bernert". FirstWorldWar.com. 2002-02-09. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  4. Early German Aces of World War I. p. 78.
  5. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918, p. 70.
  6. http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/people/959-fritz-otto-bernert.html The Aerodrome website forum
  7. Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Von Richthofen's Mentor. p. 30.
  8. http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/other-wwi-aviation/24535-kek-vaux.html
  9. Franks, Norman (2000). Albatros Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.
  10. "Jasta 6". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  11. "Jasta 4". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  12. Early German Aces of World War I. p. 81.
  13. "Jasta 2". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  14. "Air Pour le Merite Winners: Air Service Awards During World War I". PourleMerite.org. Archived from the original on 2015-12-12. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  15. Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Von Richthofen's Mentor. pp. 47–48, 51.

Bibliography
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
  • Early German Aces of World War I. Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1-84176-997-5, ISBN 978-1-84176-997-4.
  • Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Von Richthofen's Mentor. Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1-84603-203-2, ISBN 978-1-84603-203-5.
  • Albatros Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-960-3, ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.
  • Franks, Norman (2004). Jasta Boelcke. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-904010-76-0.
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